I married a witch is a 1942 American romantic fantasy comedy film directed by René Clair, and starring Fredric March and Veronica Lake. The film is based on the 1941 novel The Passionate Witch by Thorne Smith. I married a witch tells the story of a witch who is burned at the stake in 17th century Salem, only to be resurrected 300 years later to take revenge on the descendant of her persecutors by marrying him. The film starts with a brief introduction to the witch, Jennifer, and her father, Daniel, as they are sentenced to death by burning in the late 1600s. Before their execution, Jennifer places a curse on the descendants of the Puritan witch hunter who arrested them, promising that their love affairs will be doomed for eternity. Fast forward to the 20th century, where a lightning bolt strikes the tree where Jennifer and her father's ashes are buried, bringing them back to life.
There be witches in those bottles.
Maybe it s my newfangled mores which make me a little queasy watching a man who just looks that much older kissing a young woman who could easily be his daughter, but I bet it ain t. After she has several unsuccessful attempts at making Wallace fall in love with her, she conjures up a love potion because, well, that s just what witches do.
Fast forward to the 20th century, where a lightning bolt strikes the tree where Jennifer and her father's ashes are buried, bringing them back to life. Jennifer immediately set out to find her true love and fulfill her curse. She discovers that her destined victim is Wallace Wooley, a gubernatorial candidate in the midst of a re-election campaign.
I Married a Witch (1942)
It’s very cliché to say that a film is “ahead of its time,” but I can’t think of a better way to describe René Clair’s comedy, I Married a Witch. For a film that debuted in the early 1940s, it’s got a very different style of humor when compared to other comedies that came about during that era. When I think of films of the 1940s, I think of Casablanca, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Meet Me in St. Louis, so watching a film that is about a resurrected witch that preys on a soon-to-be-married man just feels so scandalous!
The film begins with a good old fashioned witch burning in Salem, Massachusetts. Jennifer (Veronica Lake) and her father are outed as witches by Jonathan Wooley (Fredric March), causing them both to be burned at the stake. Jennifer doesn’t let Jonathan’s crime go unpunished as she places a curse on his family that will cause all the Wooley men to have unsuccessful marriages. After a hilarious montage showing generations of Wooley men suffering from the curse, the film flips to a present day scene (1942). One of the descendants of Jonathan Wooley, Wallace Wooley (Fredric March…again) is having a party to celebrate his upcoming marriage to his fiancé, Estelle (Susan Hayward), as well as his candidacy for governor. During the grand event, lighting strikes a nearby tree where the ashes of Jennifer and her father were buried centuries ago. The lightning strike causes both witches to be resurrected in the form of clouds of smoke. As they’re floating around outside of the party, Jennifer realizes that Wallace is a descendant of Jonathan, and she decides to torment him by making him fall in love with her. She eventually gets a body, and the shenanigans begin. After she has several unsuccessful attempts at making Wallace fall in love with her, she conjures up a love potion because, well, that’s just what witches do. Her plan completely backfires when she accidentally drinks the potion, causing her to fall head over heels for Wallace. Needless to say, everything still works out as planned because Wallace does eventually fall in love with Jennifer. This movie isn’t called I Married a Witch for nothing.
Lake is absolutely hilarious in her role as Jennifer. She’s totally a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but in the best way possible. Wallace is a stereotypical vanilla politician, and Jennifer is possibly the bubbliest witch in the history of cinema. Watching the two interact is so comical that after seeing this film numerous times, I still catch myself laughing out loud. But it’s Jennifer’s father, Daniel (portrayed by the hilarious Cecil Kellaway), that reigns supreme as the funniest character in the movie. He too eventually gets a body, but he spends a good part of the film as a cloud of smoke that finds himself trapped in various bottles of liquor. There are also several scenes where he is too drunk to perform spells, and he eventually loses his body and gets trapped in a liquor bottle for all eternity. This is why I will forever refer to him as the funniest, drunkest witch dad to ever grace the silver screen.
I Married a Witch is entertaining from beginning to end, and what I love most about this movie is that it is completely re-watchable. I’ve seen the film numerous times and it has yet to lose its charm.
Things I kinda sorta did not like:
The lore surrounding the witches: DO NOT think too hard about the witches in this movie’s universe. First Daniel has been around since Pompeii and Jennifer has been alive for 290 years so are they immortal or can they die? Obviously fire can’t kill them as well as bullets nor lack of food. Also if Daniel has been around that long surely he has other offspring. Is Jennifer’s mother a witch as well or was she just a mortal? If they needed fire to get their human bodies, did it just manifest or did they need to kill someone in that fire? How was Daniel able to take Jennifer’s magic and if he took her magic and made her mortal why did she have to go back to the tree? No one saw any of the times the brooms were flying in the air? Nor did anyone hear the two bottle talking to each other? It is these little things like this that gnaw at the back of your mind. They don’t ruin the movie but the witches are not very fleshed out.
Jennifer decides to seduce and marry Wallace, hoping to ruin his political career and make him suffer just as her family did centuries ago. However, as she spends more time with Wallace, Jennifer begins to fall in love with him instead. Wallace, initially skeptical about Jennifer's claims of being a witch, begins to believe her when she shows him her power. As their relationship develops, Jennifer's father, Daniel, becomes jealous and tries to sabotage their love. He convinces Jennifer to take a love potion so that she will stop loving Wallace and go back to being evil. However, the plan backfires when Jennifer's love for Wallace only grows stronger. In the end, Jennifer and Wallace overcome all obstacles and are happily married. The curse is finally broken, and Jennifer's father realizes the error of his ways. He decides to give up his powers and live as a human, allowing Jennifer and Wallace to live their lives together. I married a witch is a charming and whimsical film that combines romance, comedy, and fantasy elements. It explores themes of love, redemption, and forgiveness, showcasing the power of true love to overcome even the deepest of conflicts. The performances by Fredric March and Veronica Lake are delightful, and the screenplay is filled with witty dialogue and clever plot twists. Overall, I married a witch is a fun and enchanting film that has stood the test of time. It continues to captivate audiences with its magical storyline and timeless message about the transformative power of love..
Reviews for "From Enemies to Lovers: My Marriage to a Witch in 1942"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I found "I Married a Witch 1942" to be quite disappointing. The plot felt lackluster and predictable, and the comedic elements fell flat for me. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. The overall execution of the film felt sloppy and rushed, leaving me underwhelmed. I had high expectations for this classic, but unfortunately, it did not live up to its reputation.
2. Mark - 3 stars
While I didn't hate "I Married a Witch 1942," I couldn't help but feel unimpressed by the storyline. The concept of a witch and her ghostly father seeking revenge on an ancestor's family could have been engaging, but it fell short in execution. The pacing felt off and certain scenes dragged on for too long, making it hard to stay invested. Additionally, I found the humor to be hit or miss, with some jokes falling flat while a few elicited a chuckle. Overall, it's an average film that didn't make a lasting impression on me.
3. Amy - 2 stars
"I Married a Witch 1942" was a film that I had heard great things about, but sadly it didn't resonate with me. The chemistry between the lead actors felt forced, and their performances lacked authenticity. The plot itself was rather far-fetched, even for a fantasy comedy, and I struggled to suspend my disbelief. The dialogue also left much to be desired, with many lines feeling cliché and uninspiring. Overall, I found this film to be a forgettable experience and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with "I Married a Witch 1942." The storyline, centered around a witch out for revenge, sounded promising, but it ultimately failed to captivate me. The humor was forced and rarely hit the mark, which made the film feel dull and uninspiring. The characters lacked depth, resulting in a lack of emotional investment. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable film that failed to leave a lasting impression.